Ghosts of Halloween

A couple of strange things have happened in the last few days. At first I received an email from a John Shekitka. Now a member of my aircrew in WWII was named John Shekitka. I had been trying to find him for many years. As it turned out this John Shekitka was my crewmate's grandson! Of course, I was delighted to see/hear the name again after 60 years of not hearing it or seeing John again. It didn't matter to me that this was his grandson of the same name and not the Shekitka I knew. (We never called him "John"). I was simply amazed that a Shekitka was writing to me after 60 years. And this is what he said:

Dear Dr. Ross: On occasion, I Google my name on the internet, to see if my digital self has gotten into any serious trouble, or if one of my friends has been playing a prank on me with some sort of profane website, for all the world to see. Since my grandfather and I have the same name, (although my middle name is Patrick) I used to also get a hit for the picture you had posted maybe a decade ago of the crew. Now, it seems, Google is in the business of loading selections of books online, so a few pages from your book also made it online, including the few that you mention him. Since you already had a presence on the internet, I googled your name, and found your blog, as well as what I think is your PhD thesis from back at Teachers' College. (Since I went to Columbia as an undergraduate, graduating in 2007, I was still able to access that material as well.) The magic of internet. I spoke to my father today (formally named Jon without an h for some reason, but who everyone has always called Mark) , and he seemed to remember you, or at least stories about you from back in the day.

Cheers, John

Now, I subsequently learned that John's grandfather had died several years earlier, and I was quite sorry to learn that I wasn't going to have the opportunity to see or speak to him again. Primarily because I'm sure Shekitka made it to Heaven, and I assume I'm expected in the other place where there are no opportunities to exchange emails with him.

Strangely enough, yesterday I got a phone call from someone who asked if I were Dr. Ross. I told him that indeed he had the right person, and his reply was, "It's an honor to talk to you." I thanked him for that and I asked him who he was and why was he calling me. He said his name was Dick, as I recall, but the Caller ID on my phone indicated "James Helling." Anyway, it turns out that Dick lives in Oregon and that he read my book, "Memoirs of a Tail Gunner." First of all, I was awestruck that someone I didn't know actually bought my book clear across the country. Secondly, I couldn't believe that the reader would call me (how'd he get my number?). Seems a few members of his family were also in the Navy and he wanted to quiz me about some of the things that were left unanswered in the book. Well, I thought that was awfully nice of him to call me, but now that my book was sold in Oregon, can I still claim that I am "a famous unknown author"?

And about authorship. I haven't heard of anyone buying my book of poetry called "Shadows in the Sunset". But of course I have no way of knowing. However, I found a "review" of this book that I hadn't come across before; at least I don't remember reading it. However, in the event some stranger out there loves poetry, and hasn't "googled" the book, here is the review:

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: (A really nasty remark!)

A Great Poet Shares the Beauty of Language, November 19, 2007
By
Ancient Viking - Because Norman Ross is a modest man, he has hitherto not published many of his best poems. After many years of urging by friends, critics, and former students, he has finally consented to reveal some of the work that has gained him a first-rate reputation among the privileged literary elite. Dr. Ross is truly a Renaissance man--military hero (two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 11 Air Medals before the age of 21); outstanding athlete and coach; an incredibly talented teacher; a published author in many disparate fields; a loyal patriot and friend; and the progenitor of four outstandingly talented, successful children. If you are a poetry aficionado, you will relish these finely-crafted works of art. If you are not, you may become one as a result of the lively expression of ideas that Dr. Ross has put into verse.

Thanks PB.

Pet Peeves Plus Purposeful Penalties

Now, do any of you have a list of annoyances or events or people that make your blood boil and your blood pressure to reach the very top of the nurse's BP gadget? Well, if you don't--I do and I'll share my list with you. I know a couple of very good friends who love animals, but apparently have very short memories. Perhaps they're both over 70 and AARP members. They have a couple of cats and a dog in their home. They continue to send me emails with animals as the main subject. I don't want to waste my time on the computer reading jokes or information about animals. I don't care for dogs, and cats make me sneeze. I've asked these friends not to send me any emails about animals several times, but they continue to do so. I don't know what else to do about getting them to remember and comply with my request. Perhaps I can just flood their inbox with automatic messages from the San Diego, the Bronx, and the London zoos every single day...if there are automatic messages. Otherwise, perhaps I can send them an animal's picture every day--not a different animal, but the same animal. With this kind of a nudge, perhaps they'll desist occupying my inbox with non-human subjects.

So, there you have it; animal fanatics sharing their hobby with me when I'd rather not be bothered; especially with an election coming up. And speaking of elections, there lives a family member who sent a hysterical email to Rhoda about Barack Obama and outlining in tsunamic detail all his "faults". It echoed many of McCain's attacks on him with a few of her own thrown in. But her letter went on and on like a runaway train filled with tales about his shortcomings...but not one of her own...like her unmitigated fear and prayerful panic that Obama would be elected and the country would be taken over by the Chicago mafia, Rev. Wright, Islam, Hamas, & blacks. I wrote her that she should send her letter to Colin Powell, Carol and Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and half the newspapers in the country who apparently had not heard about the things she had to say about Obama. I thanked her for her enlightenment and I told her (my niece) that her views constituted a beacon the likes of which we hadn't seen since Patrick Henry and "One if by Land, and Two if by Sea." Perhaps she needs to use all three and get the militia ready in the event of Obama's election. Now, her political views will not interfere with our relationship, but to me it's more than a pet peeve to have someone of intelligence spout out venomous and vicious allegations about a presidential candidate--regardless of party affiliation.

Daily life in the 21st Century has become a mecca for drug companies looking to sell aspirin, xanax, and anti-depressants. I know I need a dose of all three after trying to get a human being who speaks English on the telephone when I need answers to any questions I might have, be it a doctor's office, a computer techie, a bank officer, or the like. Whose idea was it to have to press "1" in order to get someone or a robot who speaks English; and then to have to wait until the explanation gets done in Spanish with the likelihood that they have to press "2"? If the idiots had thought about it, not having anyone to speak Spanish on the telephone might induce the Latinos to learn English a lot faster. I don't know of any other country that uses "1" and "2" on the telephone for two different languages. And when you finally get a human being instead of a humanoid to speak to you, it's a shame that you hadn't taken up Hindi in high school. The Indian on the other end of the line speaks Hindi English with melodic intonations reminiscent of Beethoven's Eroica. This sort of annoyance happens at least twice a week.

Of course the 21st Century has many other annoyances making life difficult and nerve wracking. I detest going out to dinner and enjoying the company I'm with--and then having to listen to someone at the next table talking so loudly on the cellphone so as to force me to pay attention to his private conversation. It is one of the rudest things a person can do with a cell phone. Cell phones turned on in restaurants should be banned along with smoking. So, gone are the days when life was much simpler and quieter with fewer technologies and less anxiety. In fact when I'm out to dinner with friends I would prefer that everyone be banned with one exeption.